Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-01-01

beautiful. The night had Deen sung
I ing cold one, and when the rising sun
peeped over the chain of mountains to
the east, and shot its beams upon the
western range, the sparkling frost flashed
from the snow clad peaks as though their
towering heads were sprinkled with pure
/ diamonds.
Mr.. Stewart arose, and shade OF
pain crossed her handsome face as the
empty little stockings caught her
! maternal eye. She cast hurried glance
/ toward the bed where her darlings lay
sleep 'ng, and whispered
ooh, Col? how dreadful is poverty"
She built glowing fire, and set about
preparing the frugal breakfast. When
it was almost ready she approached the
bed, kissed the little ones till they were
awake. and lifted them to the floor.
With eager haste Totty ran to the
stockings, only to turn away, sobbing as
though her heart would break. Tears
blinded the mother, and clasping her
little girl to her heart, she said in chok-
fsNeyer mind, my darling; next Christ
mas, am sure, mammp will be richer,
and then Santa Claus will bring us lots OF
nice thugs"
''Oh, mammal
The exclamation came from little
Benny, who had opened the door and
was standing gazing in amazement upon
the wealth of gifts there displayed.
Mrs. Stewart sprans to his side, and
looked in speechless astonishment. She
read the card, and then, causing her
| little ones to kneel down with her in the
open doorway. she poured out her soul in
q torrent of praise and Thanksgiving to
God.
Jack Dawson's burly form moved from
behind a tree q short distance away, and
sneaked off up the gulch. great crystal
tears chasing each other down his
face.
|, The family rose from their knees and
began to move the stores into the cabin.
There were several sacks of flour, hams
canned fruits, pounds and pounds of
coffee, tea and sugar, new dress goods,
and warm wooien shawl for the widow,
shoes, stockings. hats, mittens and cloth
ing for the children, big wax doll that
could cry and move its eyes for Totty,
and beautiful red sled for Benny. All
were carried inside, amid alternate
laughs and tears.
ssBring in the sack of salt, Totty, and
that is all" said the mother. ''Is not
God good to us!'
II can't lift it, mamma; it's froze
down to the step"
The mother stopped and took hold OF
it, and lifted harder and harder until
She raised it from the step. Her cheek
blanched as she noted its great weight,
and carried it in. and laid it upon the
breakfast table, With trembling fingers
she 'looscd the string, and emptied the
! contents upon the table. Gold and sill
YER more than she ever thought Of in
her widest dreams of comfort, and al
most buried in the pile of treasure lay
Totty's little blue stocking.
We will not intrude longer upon such
happiness, but leave the joyful family
sounding praise to lleavcn--and Santa
| Claus.
The whole story soon reached Mrs.
Stewarts ears. She knew Jack Dawson
by sight, and when next she met him,
although the honest fellow tried hard to
push by her, she cauS;.s bold of his coat
and compe led him to stand and listen
TO her fearful thanks. The fears shed
were not all hers, for when Jack moved
away there were drops of liquid crystal
hanging TO his ruddy checks.
hour months from that "Merrie Christ
mas Mrs Stewart became Mrs. Jack
Dawson; and every evening, when the
hardy miner returns from mis- daily labor
to his comfortable and happy home,
Totty and Benny will climb upon his
knees, and almost smother him with
kisses, while they lovingly address him
as ''Our Santa Claus papa"